The skies above the New World bled red at dawn.
The Rocks Pirates' flagship, cut through the rising mist like a black arrow. Cannons lined her flanks; torn banners bearing the Jolly Roger of Rocks flapped against the wind. The sea hissed beneath her hull as if it feared the men—and woman—who sailed her.
On the quarterdeck stood Rocks D. Xebec, arms crossed, grinning at the sight of Godfall Kingdom in the distance. Its shining white towers and golden domes shimmered beneath the sun, an island so proud it dared to call itself "untouchable."
"Untouchable," Rocks muttered. "We'll see about that."
Ada Wong—now Vice Captain of the Rocks Pirates—stood beside him, her crimson cloak fluttering, pistols strapped to her thighs. She scanned the port through a spyglass.
"Two Marine patrol ships guarding the western side," she said calmly. "Their cannons are loaded, but they're not expecting us. The east dock is open—perfect for a landing."
Shiki whistled. "Heh. Guess our Vice Captain does more than just look pretty."
Ada didn't bother looking at him. "Keep talking, Shiki. I might mistake you for target practice."
Rocks barked a laugh. "Save your bullets for the nobles, Ada. Let the lions roar, and the world will tremble."
The crew stirred at that.
Kaido crushed his barrel of sake and cracked his knuckles, grinning like a beast.
Linlin licked her lips, humming to herself about sweets and souls.
Newgate adjusted his bisento, calm and steady as always.
Captain John, Gloriosa, and Stussy stood ready with their men. Even the minor pirates felt it—something electric in the air.
This wasn't just another raid. This was a message to the world.
The first cannon fired at sunrise.
A thunderous roar echoed across the bay as the Rocks Pirates descended on the kingdom like a storm from hell. Cannonballs shattered marble walls, fire licked across the gilded rooftops, and the cries of soldiers were drowned by the laughter of pirates.
Rocks himself leaped from the ship first, his blade—a monstrous cleaver of black steel—cutting through three cannonmen in one swing. "FORWARD!" he roared. "TAKE EVERYTHING!"
The crew poured onto the docks like a tidal wave.
Ada landed behind him in a blur, her pistols blazing.
Each shot found a target—throats, wrists, hearts. She moved like a shadow wrapped in red silk, untouchable and merciless.
"Vice Captain! The left flank!" one of the Rocks sub-commanders shouted.
Ada didn't hesitate. "Kaido! Newgate! Circle around—cut off their reinforcements from the garrison!"
Kaido laughed. "Don't give me orders!" He swung his kanabo, sending soldiers flying like rag dolls.
Newgate followed, quake Haki crackling around his blade as he split the street in two. "Don't fall behind, brat!"
Shiki flew overhead, raining cannonfire from his floating ships, while Linlin rampaged through the market square, her laughter echoing over the screams. "MAMA MAMA! Their treasures are mine!"
Rocks stood at the heart of it all, cutting down knights, Marines, and nobles alike—his black coat drenched in ash and blood. Every swing of his sword was a declaration: This world belongs to the strong.
Ada moved beside him, her presence steady, precise. Where Rocks brought chaos, she brought control. Together, they were unstoppable.
By midday, the Rocks Pirates had breached the royal palace.
The golden gates lay shattered; the royal banners burned. Nobles scrambled to flee through secret tunnels, clutching jewels and ledgers. The king himself—a bloated man draped in silk—cowered on his throne.
Rocks kicked open the doors, his sword resting on his shoulder. "You must be the fool who calls himself the king of this nation."
The king trembled. "Wh-what do you want?! Money? Gold? I'll give you anything—"
Rocks grinned. "I want your silence."
His blade came down, cleaving the throne—and the king—clean in half.
Blood pooled over the marble floor, running down the steps like a crimson river. The courtiers screamed.
Ada walked forward, her heels echoing against the tile. Her pistols pointed at the remaining nobles, who fell to their knees in terror.
"You think your money protects you," she said softly. "It doesn't. The World Government won't save you."
One noble spat in her direction. "You filthy commoner! You'll burn for this!"
Ada smiled thinly. "I already did."
The gunshot was almost gentle. The noble collapsed.
Rocks laughed behind her. "You've got the spirit, Vice Captain. Let them see the truth—that their kings bleed just like we do."
By afternoon, the city was theirs. Smoke rose in pillars across the skyline.
The crew gathered in the central plaza, their laughter mingling with the crackle of fire. Linlin dumped sacks of treasure at Rocks' feet. Kaido sat on a broken statue, bruised but grinning. Newgate leaned against the fountain, catching his breath.
Rocks raised a bottle of sake. "To victory! To chaos! To the dawn of a new age!"
The crew cheered, their voices shaking the heavens.
But as the laughter faded, Kaido looked toward Ada. "You know, for someone so small, you give efficient orders."
Ada holstered her pistols. "And you actually followed them. Miracles happen."
Linlin scoffed. "Don't get too comfortable, Vice Captain. You only lead because Rocks says so."
Ada met her gaze coolly. "If you think you can do better, Linlin, then take it up with him."
Rocks grinned. "That's my girl! Keep them hungry, Ada. The moment they stop fighting each other, they'll start getting soft."
Newgate sighed. "Or they'll kill each other."
"Maybe both," Shiki muttered, lighting a cigar.
Ada ignored their bickering and looked toward the burning palace. The smell of ash reminded her of something long ago—a night when her village burned, when her mother's hand slipped from hers.
The weak always burned first.
She tightened her grip on her pistol. Not this time.
As the sun began to sink, the pirates gathered around a fire in the palace courtyard. Their spoils lay piled high—gold, gems, weapons, even ancient scrolls taken from the royal vaults.
Rocks stood before them, firelight reflecting in his eyes. "Look at what we've done," he said. "One kingdom, erased in a day. That's what happens when you stop playing by their rules."
He turned, his voice rising. "The World Government thinks they rule the seas. They hide behind titles and slaves, behind false gods and empty words. But they've forgotten the truth—power belongs to those who take it!"
The crew roared in agreement.
Rocks pointed his sword toward the horizon. "This world needs to burn before it can be rebuilt. And I'll be the one to light the fire."
He turned to Ada. "And you, Ada… you'll make sure the flame never goes out."
Ada's eyes flickered with something unreadable—respect, maybe, or the faintest spark of unease. "You talk about burning the world," she said. "But what comes after?"
Rocks grinned. "That's for the next generation to decide."
By morning, Godfall Kingdom was gone.
Its riches were plundered, its nobles dead, its name erased from charts.
And across the seas, whispers began to spread:
"The Rocks Pirates destroyed an entire kingdom overnight."
"A woman in red led the charge."
"They call her the Crimson Vice-Captain — the Shadow of Rocks."
In the smoke and silence that followed, Ada walked beside Rocks through the ruined streets. The Captain looked pleased, his dream burning brighter than ever.
"Do you see it, Ada?" he said. "This is how it starts. One day, every flag in the world will bow to ours."
Ada looked up at the rising sun, her expression unreadable. "Then we'd better make sure it's worth it."
Rocks laughed, the sound echoing through the ruins. "It will be."
And as they boarded their ship once more, sails cutting through the blood-colored dawn, the legend of the Rocks Pirates began to spread — led by a man who sought to rule the world, and a woman who would one day stand at its heart.
That night, Ada stood alone on the palace balcony, watching the ruins below. The wind carried the faint sound of laughter from the plaza. Somewhere down there, Linlin was drinking. Kaido was sparring with Shiki. Newgate was quietly tending to the wounded—crew and civilian alike.
Rocks was in his war room, already planning the next conquest.
Ada holstered her pistols and leaned on the railing. The sea glowed faintly in the moonlight, calm and endless.
"You're quiet," came a voice behind her.
Newgate stood there, arms folded. "You did good today."
"I did what needed to be done."
He nodded. "Still. The crew follows you now. They may not admit it, but they respect you."
Ada didn't respond immediately. Her gaze lingered on the burning ruins. "Respect is just fear in disguise, Newgate. And fear fades."
He gave a quiet laugh. "You sound like Rocks."
"Maybe I learned from the best," she said, though her tone carried no pride.
"You don't smile after battles," he rumbled.
Ada's crimson eyes glinted in the moonlight. "There's nothing to smile about in death. Only lessons."
Newgate studied her, then gave a rare nod. "Maybe you'll outlast even Rocks."
Ada said nothing. But in her silence, a thought echoed.
The Rocks Pirates were mighty, but fractured. She could already see it—greed, ambition, pride—tearing at their seams.
And Ada Wong… Nyx D. Ada… would be ready when the crew would fall apart.
For a long moment, they stood in silence, watching the smoke rise toward the stars.
Then Ada spoke, voice low. "One day, someone's going to come for us. For what we've done here."
Newgate nodded. "Aye. But not today."
Ada's crimson eyes narrowed. "No. Not today."